THE developer partnering with the British Library to extend its St Pancras site has confirmed that the project will proceed with a view to opening to the public in 2032.

The development combines public and commercial space around a redesigned full-height foyer and public entrances designed to attract the public and the world’s most ambitious and successful life sciences companies. This will include 'incubator desks' within the library's new business spaces, with 10 per cent of these being free to use by local people.

The terms of the application also include £23m being contributed towards affordable housing in Somers Town, 35 new homes and a new community garden on Ossulston Street.

The developer, Stanhope plc and Mitsui Fudosan (SMBL Developments Ltd), said the design, by architects RSHP and engineers Arup, will open up the library across three sides, creating publicly accessible areas and routes connecting Somers Town and St Pancras.

The British Library said: “This transformation will enable us to realise our Knowledge Matters vision and inspire thousands more people every year. And, as a key addition to UK research infrastructure, it will build on our role as a hub for science and innovation in London’s Knowledge Quarter – one of the greatest knowledge clusters anywhere in the world.”

Culture, Science and Technology Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: "The creation of a new world-class commercial science and innovation space in London's Knowledge Quarter will also help encourage investment in this vital sector in the UK. I look forward to seeing how this major development will benefit the local community and beyond, supporting growth and innovation."

Rebecca Lawrence, Chief Executive of the British Library, said: "The plans will open up the Library even further, creating an expanded national library with state-of-the-art new spaces, harnessing the power of collaboration to build a new public realm linking communities and the Knowledge Quarter and deliver significant investment in the UK.

"We look forward to working with philanthropists, our partners and community to create a groundbreaking new hub for science, innovation and knowledge that will welcome future generations of visitors, learners, researchers and budding entrepreneurs."

Takeshi Iwama, Chief Executive of Mitsui Fudosan UK, said: "We believe it can now be delivered with minimum disruption to the Library’s services and activities and with minimum impact on those living and working close to the site." He said the partnership was “one of the largest single real estate investments into London by a Japanese company to date” adding, "We are confident that the new commercial space at the heart of the King’s Cross Knowledge Quarter – and designed by leading international architectural practice RSHP and engineers Arup – will encourage some of the world’s most ambitious and successful life sciences companies to invest in the UK by the early 2030s.”